S. saccolaimus or T. saccolaimus (Payne et al., 1985) have
dark-reddish brown or blackish brown upperparts which are irregularly marked
with white patches. Their underparts are usually white, but in one colour phase
it can be dark brown. They have no wing pouch or in other words, a poorly
developed radio-metacarpal pouch. They have a distinct glandular pouch on the
throat. The ear is short and broadly rounded with ribbing on the interior of the
pinna with a short tragus which has a semicircular margin. It has long and
narrow wings with black skin and translucent whitish portions. It is the largest
species with the whitest wings.

Range Description:

This widespread species ranges from South Asia, through parts
of continental and insular Southeast Asia, Melanesia and Australia. In South
Asia, this species is presently known from Bangladesh (Sylhet division) (Sarker
and Sarker 2005; Srinivasulu and Srinivasulu 2005), India (Andaman and Nicobar
Islands, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Meghalaya,
Orissa, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal) and Sri Lanka (North Central, Uva and
Western provinces) (Molur et al. 2002; Srinivasulu et al. in press). In South
Asia, it has been recorded from sea level to 1,200 m asl (Molur et al. 2002). It
has been recorded from continental Southeast Asia, in Myanmar,Southern
Thailand, Cambodia (known only from a collection in Phnom Phen [G. Csorba
pers. comm.]), southwestern Viet Nam, Peninsular Malaysia and possibly
Singapore. Within insular Southeast Asia, the species has been recorded from the
islands of Sumatra and Java (Indonesia), Borneo (Indonesia and Malaysia only),
Sulawesi (Indonesia), the island of Timor (East Timor and Indonesia), Halmahera
(Indonesia), the Talaud Islands (Indonesia) and Ternate Island (Indonesia), and
the Philippines. In the Philippines it has been the species has been recorded
from sea level to 800 m asl (Heaney et al. 1998) from Catanduanes, Luzon and
Mindoro (Corbet and Hill 1992) Mindanao (Misamis Oriental, Zamboanga del Sur
provinces), and Negros (Heaney et al. 1998) although it is likely to occur
throughout the country except for the Batanes/Babuyan region (L. Heaney pers.
comm. 2006). It has been recorded from scattered localities on the island of New
Guinea (Indonesia and Papua New Guinea), on Yapen Island (Papua Province,
Indonesia), on the Bismarck Archipelago and the Trobriand Islands (Papua New
Guinea), on Bougainville Island (Papua New Guinea). It has also been recorded
from the island of Guadacanal in the Solomon Islands and from coastal northern
and North-eastern Australia (Queensland and Northern Territory) (Corbet and Hill
1992; Flannery 1995; Strahan 1995; Bonaccorso 1998). In the Northern Territory
of Australia, there have been relatively few records, with the only confirmed
records from the Kakadu lowlands (Woinarski and Milne 2005). This is partly due
to the lack of a diagnostic call that can be assigned to the species and can be
used for its detection (Woinarkski and Milne 2005).Countries: Native:Australia; Bangladesh; Brunei Darussalam; Cambodia; India; Indonesia;
Malaysia; Myanmar; Papua New Guinea; Philippines; Solomon Islands; Sri Lanka;
Thailand; Vietnam

Population:

In general this is a common species. In South Asia, the
population status is considered to be poorly known, but according to Bates and
Harrison (1997) it is plentiful. In the Philippines, it is poorly known, but
might be moderately common in agricultural areas (Heaney et al. 1998), and is
probably common in populated areas, but this require confirmation as there has
been little direct survey work undertaken in these modified habitats (L. Heaney
pers. comm.). It is locally common in other parts of its Southeast Asian range
outside of the Philippines.
Population Trend: Unknown

Biology and Ecology

This medium sized bat roosts in hollow trees and rock crevices and sometimes
houses in colonies varying from a few individuals to a few hundred. Roosting
bats maintain individual spacing. They are alert at the roost and scurry all
over the roost substrate if disturbed. Echolocation clicks produced by this bat
in flight are audible. females give birth to a single young per litter.

n the Nicobar Islands in India, it is found in dense forests
near to the seashore. In Sri Lanka, the species has been recorded from dense
forests, swampy areas and plantations. The diurnal roosts include hollows of old
and decaying trees including Kitul Palm and Arecanut Palm, old buildings and
rocky crevices. No sexual segregation is observed while roosting. It roosts in
small colonies of five or six. This species is known to feed on termites,
beetles and other insects and forages close to the ground. Its flight is very
fast and high, initially flying 300 to 400 m from ground. It is recorded to
emerge very early in the evening from its roost for its foraging bouts (Bates
and Harrison 1997). In Southeast Asia, the species is strongly associated with
modified habitats, including agricultural areas. It is a canopy feeder which
roosts in buildings and shallow caves sometimes occurring in large groups. In
the Philippines, records have mainly been from hollow coconut trees (L. Heaney
pers. comm. 2006). In Melanesia and Australia, this species has been recorded
from wooded areas ranging from open dry sclerophyll woodland to dense tropical
moist forest. It roosts in shallow caves, buildings and tree hollows. Roosts may
range from a few individuals to several hundred animals. The female gives birth
to a single young (Flannery 1995; Strahan 1995; Bonaccorso 1998). In Australia,
it has been found in open Pandanus woodland, as well as open eucalypt tall
forests and coastal lowlands. It roosts in tree hollows, as well as caves
(Woinarski and Milne 2005).
Systems: Terrestrial.

Major Threat(s):

There are no major threats to this widespread and
adaptable species as a whole. In South Asia, it is locally threatened by
deforestation, generally resulting from logging operations and from conversion
of land to agricultural and other uses (Molur et al. 2002). In Australia, it is
significantly threatened in coastal Queensland by clearance of coastal tropical
woodland and changes to the fire regime at the northern and southern range
limits (Duncan et al. 1999). Vegetation change due to saltwater intrusion and
invasion by exotic species (such as Mimosa pigra) may affect habitat suitability
(Woinarski and Milne 2005).

Conservation Actions:

This species has been recorded from many protected
areas, and over much of the species range no direct conservation actions are
needed. In South Asia, the species has been recorded from protected areas such
as Campbell Bay National Park (Andaman and Nicobar Islands) and Kanha National
Park (Madhya Pradesh). With, further studies needed on distribution, abundance,
breeding biology and general ecology of this species. In South Asia, populations
of this species should be monitored to record changes in abundance and
distribution. There is also a need to identify populations that are being
threatened by human induced habitat alterations in order to develop mitigation
measures (C. Srinivasulu pers. comm.). It has been recorded from several
protected areas in Australia (eg. Kakadu National Park), however, there is a
need to identify and protect important roosting and foraging sites for the
species. Further studies are needed in Australia into the distribution,
abundance, natural history and threats to this species. The eastern Australian
form has been described as a subspecies, and there is a there is a need for
additional taxonomic work (T. Reardon pers. comm.). There is also a need to
resolve the taxonomic status of the Northern Territory population relative to
that in north-eastern Queensland, as well as a study to determine its habitat,
distribution, population size, and status (Woinarski and Milne 2005).